Metal curtain slat joint



' Oct. 29, 1935. E. G. ANDERSON 2,019,379

METAL CURTAIN SLAT JOINT Filed Sept. 15, 1934 /7 l3 l6 ,9 l5

WITNESSES} INVENTOR Z Z [/15 dflzzdelsmz ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL CURTAIN SLAT JOINT Ellis G. Anderson, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application September 15, 1934, Serial No. 744,220 4 Claims. (Cl. 18956) This invention relates to improvements in structural units in the form of panels and slats having interlocking or inter-engaging means for joining the adjacent longitudinal edges thereof I to be suitable for use in the construction of rolling action curtains and doors; and for the construction of walls and roof decks of various types of farm buildings, commercial buildings, and other structures where economy of construction and maintenance are essential.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a structural unit of the indicated character embodying improvements in the construction thereof so as to set up sufficient friction between adjoining units, to prevent spreading movement of the units with reference to each other, and to avoid the use of end locks on the units to hold them in line against relative endwise movement.

The invention consists in the improved features hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of structural units constructed and joined in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view illustrating the hinging or pivoting movement of the units joined in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 3 is an end view of a portion of a unit showing the shoulder and joint-forming means on one of its longitudinal edges.

Fig. 4 is an end view of a portion of a unit showing the shoulder and joint-forming means on the other longitudinal edge.

Each structural unit is made preferably of sheet metal of the desired thickness. The unit consists of a long narrow body l so as to take the form Of a panel or slat. A shoulder ll ex tends at an acute angle or is inclined with respect to the general plane of the body H] in continuation thereof entirely along one of its longitudinal sides. The shoulder H has an extension I2 joined thereto at an acute angle with respect to the shoulder II, the juncture 13 between the shoulder H and the extension 12 being well rounded as shown. The extension I2 is co-extensive with the shoulder II. A shoulder I4 extends at an obtuse angle or is inclined with respect to the plane of the body It! in continuation thereof entirely along the other longitudinal side of the body. The shoulder l4 has an extension l5 joined thereto and is disposed at an acute angle with respect to the shoulder 14. The juncture 16 between the shoulder 14 and the extension H5 is well rounded so as to be concentric to the juncture l3 and to receive the latter therein. The extension I5 is co-extensive with the shoulder M. The extension 55 has a flange I1 disposed at an acute angle with respect thereto and co-extensive with it and constituting a hook. 5

In accordance with an improved feature of the invention, the interior angle between the body In and the shoulder H indicated by the curved arrows I8 is slightly greater than the exterior angle between the shoulder l4 and the plane of the 10 body l0 indicated by the curved arrows l9. The interior angle between the shoulder II and the extension l2 indicated by the curved arrows 20 is slightly greater than the interior angle between the shoulder l4 and the extension I5 indicated by the curved arrows 2!. In assembling the structural units having the features mentioned, the shoulder II and extension l2 on one unit will be opposite the shoulder l4 and extension l5 on an adjoining unit. By bringing one unit at an angle with respect to another unit, the extension 12 may be disposed within the extension 15 to form a joint which permits hinging or pivoting movement between the joined units as indicated in Fig. 2. The hook ll prevents unintentional separation of the units, which can only be accomplished by moving the one unit almost to a position at right angles to the adjoining unit. The shoulders H and I4 constitute means to limit the relative movement of adjoining units about the joint formed therebetween in one direction. In fact, these shoulders H and [4 limit said movement in one direction to a point in which the bodies I0 of assembled units will be disposed in a single plane as shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

By reason of the differences in the angularity of the shoulders II and I4 with respect to'the body 10, and the difference in angularity of the shoulder H and extension [2 compared with the shoulder l4 and extension I5, sufiicient friction is set up between these portions of the units when joined in the manner hereinabove described, to prevent spreading movement of adjoining units, and also to hold the units in alignment without the use of end locks on the units.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the desired number of units having the features mentioned may be inter-engaged or interlocked with each other to constitute a rolling curtain or door for warehouses, garages, and the like, and also for constructing walls and roof decks for various buildings.

I claim:

1. A rolling curtain comprising metal units having on their longitudinal edges inter-engaged extensions consisting of angularly disposed portions, one extension of each unit being disposed Within one extension on the adjacent unit so as to provide a joint between adjoining units permitting hinging or pivoting movement of adjoining units, the normal angularity of the portions of the extensions forming each joint being of diiferent degrees whereby sufficient friction is set up between the portions thereof, to prevent relative spreading movement of the units, and also to hold the units in line.

2. A structural unit constructed of sheet material and consisting of a body, shoulders on opposite sides of the body respectively and extending entirely along the same, one of said shoulders being disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the body, the other shoulder being disposed at an acute angle with respect to the body and the normal degree of its interior angle being greater than the normal degree of the exterior angle of the first mentioned shoulder, each of said shoulders having an extension, and one of said extensions having an inturned flange constituting a 85 hook.

3. A structure comprising slats having shoulders inclined to the general plane of the slats, inter-engaged angular extensions on said shoulders forming a joint allowing hinging or pivoting movement of adjoining slats with respect to each other, the normal inclination of one shoulder of each slat being slightly greater than that of the other shoulder and the angularity of the extension of one of said shoulders being slightly greater than that of the related extension, so as to set up sufficient friction between portions of the slats 10 to prevent relative spreading movement of the slats, and also to hold the slats in line, said shoulders limiting the movement of adjoining slats about the joints therebetween in one direction. 15

4. A structure comprising units having on their adjacent sides inter-engaged extensions consisting of angularly disposed portions, one of said extensions being disposed within the other and the normal angularity of the portions of the for- 80 mer being slightly greater than that of the. latter, so as to set up suflicient friction between the portions of the units, to prevent relative spreading movement of the units, and also to hold the units in line. I

ELLIS G. ANDERSON. 

